Finally got back to the oven build.... Wife NEEDED the house and deck pressure washed! Well that was ok yesterday as the temps got pretty high in the 90's. So playing in the water was a cool way to work. THen we got the thunder storms which promptly took my pop-up tent off the ground and turned it upside down in the woods about fifty feet away. Brick oven didn't move!
Finished the sixth course except for the keystone which is the last piece for the dome transition. I did mortar the transition pieces and just to the right I need the keystone plugged in! Have to run to send time with wife and neighbors, I'll take some pics and post tomorrow.
Thanks to everyone for the help and encouragement!

...Or some anti-gravity firebricks! I think I can handle the bevel cuts ok, but the bending over is getting tough now and I'm not even close to the top!!...

I never did find a comfortable spot while working on the dome. It pretty much ripped up my old worn out body. But I figure it is like a woman and child birth, a year later you are drinking wine and have forgotten about it!

The wet firebricks TORE up my hands beyond belief also.

Keep up the good work and get those pics posted! (I need to go fire up my WFO tomorrow!!)

I never did find a comfortable spot while working on the dome. It pretty much ripped up my old worn out body. But I figure it is like a woman and child birth, a year later you are drinking wine and have forgotten about it!

The wet firebricks TORE up my hands beyond belief also.

Keep up the good work and get those pics posted! (I need to go fire up my WFO tomorrow!!)
Eric.

Well here are a couple of pics with the sixth course done and a couple of rare side shots from the walk out basement. In getting ready for course number seven, I am not pleased about the next courses being compared to child birth! I am not "that old" but it is the mileage that has me worried!

I have been using vinyl gloves to help with the lime/skin combat and they have worked very well. Tough enough to put up seven or eight firebricks, and still thin enough to feel the front of the bricks for alignment.
And I hope you are sending some of the bounty over from your oven!

The oven looks great so far. I found that the work didn't get any more "difficult' until you get to the last two courses - when the dome closes in on itself. If you mix the mortar just right - it acts like glue and holds the bricks in place quite well.

The oven looks great so far. I found that the work didn't get any more "difficult' until you get to the last two courses - when the dome closes in on itself. If you mix the mortar just right - it acts like glue and holds the bricks in place quite well.

Great job.

Thanks for the encouragement and putting off the impossible till the last two courses! I hope I get that the mix right for the sticky gluey stuff! I am getting close using heatstop 50.
I finished the eight course today in dismal weather, which I think is helping the mortar cure quite nicely.
Back to my day job tomorrow!

...and putting off the impossible till the last two courses! I hope I get that the mix right for the sticky gluey stuff! I am getting close using heatstop 50.
...

Using "the tool" and a little patience you will have no problem with the last rows. I used my own fire clay mix and just added a bit more clay to keep it sticky. I found the smaller rings went fast. cutting the top keystone took me a while, but you are cruising right along and will be cooking soon!

Using "the tool" and a little patience you will have no problem with the last rows. I used my own fire clay mix and just added a bit more clay to keep it sticky. I found the smaller rings went fast. cutting the top keystone took me a while, but you are cruising right along and will be cooking soon!

Those drying fires make good chicken, beef, lamb...etc, etc!

It's home sailing for you now! Nice!

Eric.

Hi Eric, It sounds like the home mix worked well for you. I am using Heatstop 50 and so far so good. I am wondering if adding some fireclay to the heatstop 50 would work the same as in the homebrew?
Thanks for the info!
John

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Heatstop is a just-add-water product. I wouldn't mess around with trying to put in additives.

If you want to use the homebrew, use it. It's cheap and easy.

Thanks for the scoop on not messing with the heatstop. I have picked up a bag of lime to go with the portland,sand and fireclay I have haging around and will mix a small batch and test it on a couple of pieces of cut up firebrick.
Thanks again!
With the completed eight chain, it is getting stepper Thanks to everyone that have me keeping an eye on the dome height, an eye on the vertical joints and an eye on the level (no front droop) Oh I think I ran out of eyes Well, I do appreciate being kept on the correct path for the build!
Thanks All!

I am on the last couple of antibiotics and can't drink to celebrate, but I did get another two chains done since I am feeling better! I can smell the pizza already!!!!!!!!!!! Now I am VERY disappointed in not making the July 2nd self imposed deadline. But some things are out of my control, weather, flu, sinus infections and total lack of masonry skills all contributed to the missed deadline. Enough about what could have been, I see the hole in the dome slowly closing and thats' GOOD!
Here are a couple of pics, enjoy the holiday all!
John

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